Thanks for a fantastic time out here, fingers crossed I can get back out soon!

(Africamper)

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Fagaras Mountains , Romania

In a nutshell

Fagaras are the most impressive mountains from the entire Carpathian chain; one of the longest ridges in Europe, including the highest Romanian Peak – Moldoveanu – 2544m. This tour is intended for well experienced hikers, accustomed to altitudes of 2000 – 3000 m. The route is sometimes difficult and exposed but not technical. The ridge is long and can be windswept and rainswept. In winter the ridge offers many classic snow and ice climbs; many of gullies are steep and deep.

This trip is 11 days in total, with 6 days hiking in the Fagaras Range, 3 days around Bran Castle  and Sighisoara and 2 days travel.

Itinerary

Day 1: Friday 13th July 2007

London - Budapest (EasyJet flight) and overnight sleeper train Sighisoara, Romania. Arrive in Budapest and spend the rest of the day relaxing and visiting the sights like the famous Danube river, the amazing citadel. First stop should be the Keleti Train station where you can leave your gear for a few hours until the overnight train to Sighisoara in Romania. The train leaves at about 11pm.

Day 2: Saturday 14th July

Sighisoara. Met by our local guide and check into the Casa Wagner hotel, in the heart of the citadel which is the birthplace of Vad Dracul and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Sightseeing and dinner in Casa Vlad Dracul (food includes local specialities such as Dracula medallion steak and papanasi, a sweet cheese with cream and jam).

Day 3: Sunday 15th July

Sighisoara - Negoiu Hut - around 3 hours, 900 m altitude gain over 6 km. Drive to Biertan for late breakfast in a medieval restaurant. Hike to Negoiu Hut (hostel style dormitory), check in, have lunch, explore the area. Dinner.

Day 4:  Monday 16th July

Negoiu Hut - Negoiu Peak - Caltun Lake - Capra Lake – Balea Lake Hut. 12-15 km of hiking, around 8-9 hours, 1200 m altitude difference. A hard day but worthy for the impressive view of the chain of glacier lakes. After breakfast we hike up to Negoiu Peak (2535m) carrying the rucksacks, and walk to Caltun Lake located at foot of Caltun Peak. A picnic lunch and then walk to Capra Lake, Balea Lake for overnight accommodation (2034m).

Day 5: Tuesday 17th July

Balea Lake Hut – Vanatoarea lui Buteanu Peak – Balea Lake Hut. A day to get accustomed to the new surroundings, on the banks of a beautiful glacial lake, at an altitude of 2040 m, and admire one of the biggest waterfalls in Romania, Balea Waterfall. OPTIONAL: hike up to Vanatoarea lui Buteanu Peak, 2507m , (about 3 -4 km, around 2 – 3 hours, 500m altitude difference)  offering a splendid view over the most difficult winter mountaineering route – Arpasel Ridge.

Day  6: Wednesday 18th July

Balea Lake Hut - Capra Lake – Fereastra Zmeilor Rock – Podragu Mountain Hut . 10-11 km of hiking for the whole day, around  6 -7 hours,  600-700 m altitude difference. Walk up to Capra Lake, then “Fereastra Zmeilor Rock (Dragon’s Window Rock), and head to Podragu Peak (picnic lunch on the way). Check in the hut – 2136 m, hostel style dormitory.

Day 7: Thursday 19th July

Podragu Hut - Moldoveanu Peak - Valea Sambetei Hut. 12-14 km of hiking, around 7-8 hours, 700-800 altitude difference. Hike up to conquer the highest peak in Romania – Moldoveanu (2544m). Then cross “Fereastra Mare a Sâmbetei” mountain pass, picnic lunch, and head to Valea Sambetei Hut - hostel style dormitory.

Day 8: Friday 20th July

Valea Sambetei Hut - Fagaras Citadel – Bran. 9-10 km of hiking for the whole day, around 2-3 hours, 800 m altitude difference. After breakfast walk down to Sambata Tourist Complex, and drive to Fagaras town. Visit the old citadel; enjoy a lunch in a special location, the cellar of Fagaras Citadel. Drive to Bran. Hotel

Day 9: Saturday 21st July

Bran – Brasov – Bran. Visit Bran Castle, which owes its fame both to its unique charm and to the myth Bram Stoker created around Dracula. Documentary evidence of the castle dates back as far as 1377. A true fortress and once a fort guarding the commercial road, approx. 25 km away from Braşov, all its walls are made of stone and the rooms and narrow corridors form a labyrinth of hidden corners and secret chambers. In 1920, Queen Mary, the niece of Queen Victoria of Great Britain, turned the castle into a beautiful summer residence. Close to the castle there is a shrine set in the wall of a mountain which once sheltered her heart.

After lunch drive to Brasov, a city with a strong medieval ambiance, located at the foot of Tamps Hill, famous for its Black Church. Explore the city; enjoy a dinner with wine tasting and folk show in Carpathian Stag restaurant in Brasov. Return to Bran.   

Day 10: Sunday 22nd July

Bran – Busteni – Sinaia – Brasov. Drive to Busteni, take the cable car up to Babele Hut; admire Babele stones – megaliths shaped by wind and rain into human forms, then hike to Sfinxul. Descend by cable car to Sinaia, the pearl of mountain resorts in Romania. Enjoy lunch in Palace Restaurant, the place where the passengers of the famous train Orient Express used to eat. Visit Peles Castle. The edifice was built in 1873, on the order of Carol de Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen – King of Romania from 1866 – and is an architectural mixture of the German School and neo-renaissance style. The castle has 160 rooms, all of them opulently decorated in leather and wood from valuable tree species. It is one of the best preserved and the most beautiful royal residences in Europe.  The castle also served as the retreat residence of most of Romania’s monarchs – Carol I, King Ferdinand and Queen Maria of Romania (the niece of Queen Victoria of Great Britain). Drive to Brasov and take the overnight train to Budapest.

Day 11: Monday 23rd July

Budapest – U.K. Flight back home to London. 

 

Price includes:

The price includes: guide services in Romania, all transport including return train sleeper from Budapest, all accommodation in mountain huts (hostel style dormitories) and 3 star hotels, all meals as below -

• all breakfasts – 11 breakfasts
• all lunches – 10 lunches (traditional Hungarian lunch in Budapest , traditional Sighisoara lunch in the citadel, 4 picnic lunches on the mountains, lunch in the cellar of the Fagaras citadel, lunch in Orient Express Restaurant –the place where the passengers of the famous train Orient Express used to eat ) 
• all dinners – 10 dinners( welcome dinner in Casa Vlad Dracul -Vlad Dracul’s House - in Sighisoara , farewell dinner – folk show dinner in Brasov, sandwiches for the train ride to Budapest ) 

plus entry fees to the mentioned attractions:

Fisherman Bastion, Matthias Church and Visegrad Citadel in Budapest, Rasnov Peasant Citadel, The Clock Tower in Sighisoara – Medieval Weapon Collection, Torture Room, The Fortified Church in Biertan, Bran Castle, Peles Castle, Black Church in Brasov, cable car in Busteni.